Mordant



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. \VAITE, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MORDANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,294, dated May 4,1886.

Application filed February 17, 1886. Serial No. 192,263. (Specimens) vTo aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES N. \VAITE, of Medford, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mordants, of which the following isaspecification.

This invention relates to a new and im proved inordant for fixinganiline or other dyes on cotton yarn or cloth; and it consists in amordant composed of antimony dissolved in lactic acid, and is used incombination with tannin or other suitable materials, as I will nowproceed to describe.

I take of lactic acid (preferably twenty-five per cent. strength) fourhundred pounds, and add thereto nitric acid, full strength, fiftypounds, and some powdered antimony, using not less than the acids arecapable of dissolving. Heat to 150 Fahrenheit. The nitric acid convertsthe antimony into autimonious oxide, which is dissolved by the lacticacid, the nitric acid being destroyed. Raise the heat slowly and boil atthe end until all further action on the antimony ceases. Care must betaken not to raise the heat too much at first, or some of theantimonious oxide (Sb.,0,,) is converted into antimonic oxide, (Sb.,Owhich is insoluble in lactic acid. Then the action has ceased, pour offthe liquor from the undissolved antimony, and add seventy pounds of drycarbonate of soda or its equivalent. This neutralizes two-thirds of thelactic acid, but does not precipitate the antimony.

In cases where an acid mordant is not hurtful I do not add the soda.

In using my mordant for dyeing I first run the cotton yarn or cloththrough a tannin bath of suitable strength, and then slightly wash it toremove the loose tannin from the outside of the fiber. I then pass theyarn or cloth through a bath of the above-described lactate of antimonyof suitable strength, to which I prefer to add some carbonated alkali toneutralize a part of the lactic acid. The cloth is then thoroughlywashed to remove the loose mordant, when it is ready for the dye-bath.For deep shades I use four or five pounds of lactate of antimony for onehundred pounds of yarn or cloth. The antimony remains in solution if thebath be cold, even though all the acid has been neutralized, andis inthe most perfect state to combine with the tannin in the cotton fiber,allowing the bath to be completely exhausted of antimony. This bathdesired extent without separation.

may also be diluted to any extent desired without the antimonyseparating in any insoluble form, as is the case when oxymuriate ofantimony is used.

This compound may be used in calico-printin g whenever antimony is adesirable mordant, the neutral properties of the improved compoundespecially fitting it for such use. Heretofore antimony inordantscomposed of tartaremetic or the double oxalate of antimony and potashhave been used. The use of these co1npounds soon renders the bath soacid as to prevent the further or complete union of antimony and tannin,atthe same time injuring the tone of the color. This objection does notapply to my improved lactate compound. Oxymuriate of antimonya tradename for SbCl made in a manner well known to dyershas also been used;but it cannot be used advantageously on account of its highly acidcharacter and its property of forming an insoluble oxychloride, SbOCl,when diluted with water. This objection does not apply to the lactatecompound, because, as before stated, the lactate of antimony may bediluted to any The lac tate, being noircrystallizable, may be dissolvedin water readily to any extent, so that it is especially useful where aconcentrated neu tral solution of antimony is required.

The lactate of antimony is much cheaper than the antimony mordantsheretofore en1- ployed, and is free from the objections which apply tosaid mordantsviz., the insolubility of the oxymuriates in dilutesolutions, and the property which all have of becoming acid when thebath is partially exhausted, the acid preventing the union of theantimony with the tannin.

I claim-- I. An improved mordant for dyeing or calico-printing,consisting of autimonious oxide dissolved inlactic acid 2. An improvedmordant for dyeing or calicoprinting, consisting of autimonious oxidedissolved in lactic acid wholly or partially neutralized by an alkali,as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 12th day of February, 1886.

Vitnesses: CHARLES N. \VAITE.

G. F. BEowN, ARTHUR IV. CRossLEY.

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